The film deserved all the commentary it received both pro and con. I was surprised and gratified that a film which deals with tragedy and the tragic attracted this much attention in a country which is dedicated to the patented formula Hollywood ending.
Meet Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling) she's got everything, pretty, a brilliant astronomy affectionado and on her way to MIT. Like most teens, she went out to celebrate and drove home drunk. On her way home, distracted by a strange phenomena in the sky, another earth which has come into view, she slams into John Burroughs' (William Mapother) car which was stopped at a light. John Burroughs' pregnant wife and son are killed in the collision. Burroughs goes into a coma.
Rhoda draws a four year stretch. Flash ahead 4 years, Rhoda is out of jail and Burroughs is out of a coma. Returning home to her room which was left as it was when she prepared to go out on the night of the collision, a sullen, morose Rhoda dismantles the room and sleeps on the floor. While her parole officer encourages her to return to school, she opts for a job cleaning the local high school so that she can avoid contact with other people. Wandering around in a fog, she gives up her flashy clothes and dresses as unattractively as possible, like a bum.
She has an important need to apologize to Burrows for his loss but ends up cleaning his house. Burrows might have remained in the alcohol numbed stupor into which he slid after recovering from the coma but Rhoda never cashed his checks. He therefore seeks her out and their relationship blossoms into a love interest. Burroughs returns to pursue the music he had laid aside, advising Rhoda that right before the tragic accident he had reached a state of contentment.
The implication is clear and Rhoda uses it to justify her actions to herself by believing she is making Mr Burrow's life a bit better every day. Even the distant, morose Rhoda seems to become more lively.
But Rhoda's past catches up with her when her essay wins a seat on the privately funded expedition to the alternate earth. Will her path cross over Mr Burroughs or will they collide once again? The photography nicely complements the script and imparts that distant or disconnected feeling to which a morose Rhoda is subject.
The ending has a powerful message on that subject, but see the film and come to your own conclusion.
Meet Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling) she's got everything, pretty, a brilliant astronomy affectionado and on her way to MIT. Like most teens, she went out to celebrate and drove home drunk. On her way home, distracted by a strange phenomena in the sky, another earth which has come into view, she slams into John Burroughs' (William Mapother) car which was stopped at a light. John Burroughs' pregnant wife and son are killed in the collision. Burroughs goes into a coma.
Rhoda draws a four year stretch. Flash ahead 4 years, Rhoda is out of jail and Burroughs is out of a coma. Returning home to her room which was left as it was when she prepared to go out on the night of the collision, a sullen, morose Rhoda dismantles the room and sleeps on the floor. While her parole officer encourages her to return to school, she opts for a job cleaning the local high school so that she can avoid contact with other people. Wandering around in a fog, she gives up her flashy clothes and dresses as unattractively as possible, like a bum.
She has an important need to apologize to Burrows for his loss but ends up cleaning his house. Burrows might have remained in the alcohol numbed stupor into which he slid after recovering from the coma but Rhoda never cashed his checks. He therefore seeks her out and their relationship blossoms into a love interest. Burroughs returns to pursue the music he had laid aside, advising Rhoda that right before the tragic accident he had reached a state of contentment.
The implication is clear and Rhoda uses it to justify her actions to herself by believing she is making Mr Burrow's life a bit better every day. Even the distant, morose Rhoda seems to become more lively.
But Rhoda's past catches up with her when her essay wins a seat on the privately funded expedition to the alternate earth. Will her path cross over Mr Burroughs or will they collide once again? The photography nicely complements the script and imparts that distant or disconnected feeling to which a morose Rhoda is subject.
The ending has a powerful message on that subject, but see the film and come to your own conclusion.